Reference Rename

The Reference Rename command allows you to rename all reference designators in a design. Any gates associated with a component are also renamed. Parameters and zone directions can be specified to achieve consistent naming. Launch this command by selecting Component > Change > Reference Rename on the eCADSTAR Schematic Editor ribbon. Alternatively, click Home > Change > Reference Rename in Component Browser. All sheets in the design are locked when this dialog is open. Any messages relating to the command are displayed in the Output Panel .

 

 Note
If you select block components, then their reference designators are renamed. However, the references of the inner components of the blocks are not renamed.

 

Target

Allows you to rename reference designators in the whole circuit or current sheet, or for components that you select on the canvas. You can also optionally set the range of the components that are renamed, rather than renaming reference designators for all components.

Item Description
Whole circuit Reference designators of components in the whole circuit are renamed. This includes components on related gates. You can also add a value in the Prefixes box to only rename components with a specified prefix. If selected, then the Mode section is made available.
Whole sheet Reference designators of components on the sheet and components on related gates are renamed. This is done even if the gate components are not on the current sheet. You can also add a value in the Prefixes box to only rename components with a specified prefix. Clicking Whole sheet has the same effect as clicking Selected items and then selecting all components on the canvas. If selected, then only the Initial value box in the Mode section is made available.
Note
If Component Browser is active, then this option is made unavailable.
Selected items Selected components and the components on related gates are renamed. This is done even if the gate components are not selected. If specified, then only the Initial value box in the Mode section is made available.
Prefixes Regardless of the selected Target value, you can specify the prefix of components to be renamed. For example, you could specify ‘R’ to rename only resistors.
  • Enter multiple prefixes using a space as a separator.
  • To rename all reference designators, do not enter a value or enter '*’.

Mode

Specify the method by which reference designators are renamed. If Whole circuit is selected, then you can select whether to rename all relevant references by prioritizing sheets or blocks, or by defining the range of start values for each sheet. If another option is selected in this section, then this functionality is made unavailable.

Use Sheet Ordering Method

If selected, then you can either rename reference designators in blocks first and then sheets, or in sheets first and then blocks. You can also specify the initial value from which the renaming process is started. The Method and Initial value boxes are made available.

Item   Description
Method   Select the method used to rename reference designators within the sheets and blocks in the design.
  Sheet first
  1. The reference designators within all the sheets in the design are renamed first.
  2. Next, the reference designators within the blocks associated with each sheet are renamed. This is done in sheet order.
  Block first
  1. The reference designators within the first sheet in the design are renamed.
  2. Next, the reference designators are updated for any blocks below this sheet in the hierarchy.
  3. When reference designators in all blocks within this sheet are renamed, the next sheet is updated.
Initial value: when Whole circuit is selected   Specify the initial value from which the renaming process is started. For example, if '100' is set with a prefix of 'R', then the first component is renamed to 'R100'. By default, this value is set to '1'.
Initial value: when Whole sheet or Selected items is selected   Specify the initial value from which the renaming process is started. For example, if '100' is set with a prefix of 'R', then the first component is renamed to 'R100'. The value that you specify is saved until eCADSTAR Schematic Editor is restarted.

Use Start Value for Reference Designator

If selected, then you can define a range of start values for reference designators in each sheet. The Set button is made available.

Item Description
Set Displays the Set Start Values for Reference Designator dialog. This lists all sheets in the design, and allows you to set a start value for the reference designators in each sheet. The Minimum value ensures that the reference designators are unique.

Direction

Item Description
Zone Direction Select the direction in which zones containing reference designators are re-ordered. The specified direction also applies to components within each zone. The following example shows how reference designators are renamed when you select Horizontal (Top-left) The red line shows the direction per zone. The green line shows the direction of the whole process.

Zones are specified in the Sheet Settings dialog in eCADSTAR Schematic Editor.
 Note
To achieve the required renaming, you may need to reduce the number of zones in the Sheet Settings dialog.

 

Item Description
Apply The relevant reference designators are renamed using the specified settings. Any messages are displayed in the Output Panel , Reference Rename tab. Double-click a row in the Reference Rename tab to display the relevant component on the canvas. You can also refer to the Output Panel to confirm that the Reference Rename command completed successfully. The Undo command allows you to undo these changes if required.
Exit Closes the Reference Rename dialog.

 

Related Topics
Set Start Values for Reference Designator
Reference Allocator